Alma Katsu

How did you become a writer?

Like many writers, I started when I was young. Pre-teen, in my case. I wrote to amuse myself and my friends. Since writing was what I enjoyed the most, it made sense to try to make a living at it. I was a newspaper stringer for a while but just as I was entering the workforce as an adult, I decided to try something completely different and took a job in intelligence, with the National Security Agency (and later CIA). I thought I’d stay for a couple years for the experience of doing something so different and ended up with a 30+ year career.

I stopped writing shortly after I joined NSA because at the time the Intelligence Community didn’t like you doing anything that got your name out there.

I got back into writing fiction later in life, sold my first novel at 50 and now, in my early 60s, have published seven novels, and have a property in pre-production for a TV series. It’s been a wild and unexpected ride.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

I was lucky early in life to study as an undergrad with John Irving. I loved literary fiction but also liked genre, particularly speculative fiction (Poe, Shirley Jackson). I think that’s resulted in my writing being a mix of the two.

I also studied fiction at Johns Hopkins. It’s a great master’s program but I wouldn’t say you need a master’s degree to write.

When and where do you write?

Now that I’m retired from my career, I have the luxury of writing full-time from home. We recently built a guesthouse for visitors, and I use it as an office. I try to be disciplined and keep to a schedule, but you need to learn to be flexible in order to stay productive. Generally I work seven days a week.

What are you working on now?

I’m about to hand in the second book in my spy novel series, RED LONDON (GP Putnam’s Sons), which will be published in 2023. This is the property that is being turned into a TV show. My next historical horror, THE FERVOR (also Putnam) is six weeks from publication as I write this, so my time is split between working on promotion for the new book, polishing up a couple small projects, and thinking up the idea for the next historical horror.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

Luckily, I can’t say that I have. I have a strong fear of not getting another contract and that serves as great inspiration.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Treat it like a job because that’s what publishing is. Writing is great, but it takes discipline to turn a love of writing into a business.

What’s your advice to new writers?

The standard: write, write, write and read, read, read. Read books that will inspire you to be a better writer. Write through the hard parts until you get them right.

Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of seven novels. Her latest is The Fervor (GP Putnam’s Sons), a reimagining of the waning days of WWII with a horror twist. It’s been called “a stunning triumph” (Booklist, starred) and “a must-read for all” (Library Journal, starred). Red Widow, her first spy novel, was a NYT Editors Choice and is in pre-production for a TV series with FOX.